Brace for articles of furniture



Aug. 8, 1933.

T. H. WlTTLl FF BRACE FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Filed March 30 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

Tzeoclore J9. M7 177 7 7 Sa M 52 A TTORNEYS.

1933- T. H. WlTTLlFF I 1,921,143

BRACE FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Filed March 30, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lflllflllllmllllll I N VEN TOR.

T/mdm H. m-m-ff ATTORNEYS,

Aug. 8, 1933. T. H. WlTTLlFF BRACE FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Filed March 30, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORN Patented Aug. 8, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention as indicated relates to a brace for articles of furniture. It is a continuation in part of my application Serial Number 30,155, filed May 14, 1925, resulting in U. S. Patent Number 1,820,589. More particularly it comprises a brace having flexible members which are preferably formed of chains adjacent their ends and of freely slidable central elements combined'with such chains whereby free adjustment of the braces may be readily secured. The central elements may comprise endless wire loops or metal straps. Where bed and chair braces are to be applied to different articles of furniture it is desirable to have the flexible members largely of individual links so that they may be folded into a small compass and not kink when removed from the articles of furniture and not make it difficult to apply the same when the article 01' furniture is again brought into use. This is particularly true of the beds in hotels which are frequently changed from room to room or in the event of special occasions, such as conventions, are set up in rooms otherwise used as living rooms or reception rooms. With beds of this character the frequent handling produces a loose-jointed condition which is very disagreeable to the person using the bed and, therefore, the need of a furniture brace is quite essential to the comfort of the patrons of the hotel.

Where chains are to be used entirely as the tensioning members, no free sliding action of the central portion can be readily provided for and braces of this rigid type tend to creak and to distort the article of furniture from its proper rectangular outline if not very carefully made and installed. Where a free sliding central portion is provided, the brace itself compensates for such differences in length when the device is manufactured or when it is installed, and a satisfactory bracing of the article of furniture may at all times be brought about. Thus the advantages of a freely adjustable brace are combined with the advantages of a compact type brace. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a bracing device embodying the principles of my invention applied to a bed; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the tensioning device and associated parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. ,3 is an inside view of a tensioning plate with a single flexible member cooperating therewith; Fig. 4 is a view of a tensioning plate with two flexible members in engagement therewith; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View illustrating'the use of sheet metal straps in connection with the central portion of a flexible member; Fig. 6 shows a bed equipped with two flexible members having central strap portions; Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the tensioning mechanism and associated 7 parts shown centrally in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view partly in section taken along the line 8-8, looking in the direction of the arrows, shown in Fig. 7 showing the plate and chain connection at one end of the tensioning device; Fig. 9 is an end View taken along the line 9-9 shown in Fig. 7, looking inthe direction of the arrows; Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of a bent wood chair embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 11 is a central vertical sectional view taken along the line 11--l1v shown in Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view showing the connection at the forward corner of a bent wood chair in my preferred form of construction.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the brace is applied to a bed 1 having head and foot members 2, 3, corner posts 4, 5, 6, and 7, and side rails 8, 9 are provided with terminal members 11 secured to each of the inside corner posts and other terminal members 12 secured to each of the side rails at a point slightly above the central portion thereof. A flexible member 13is secured to the terminal elements of the lower corner posts and has its end portions 14 formed with chains and its central portion 15 with an endless Wire loop. The wire loop is engaged over a tensioning plate 16 and is of approximately twice the length thereof. The terminal plate is provided with flanges 17 which are diverted outwardly adjacent the ends to permit the flexible member to seek free adjustment in an angular positionif necessary. The opposite flexible members 21, 22, are likewise formed with chain portions at their ends and with an endless wire loop 23, 24, respectively, at their central portions. The chain at one end'of the member 22 is secured to the terminal 11 fastened to the corner of the post 6 and the chain at its opposite end is secured to the terminal 12 fase tened to the inner face of the side rail 9 of the bed and the chain at one end of the member 21 is secured to the terminal element 11 at the inner corner of the post '7 and the chain at the opposite end of the member 21 is secured to the terminal 12 on the inner face of the side rail 8. The construction of the central portion of the flexible members and their relation to the t-ensioning plates will be readily understood, by reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 4. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the loop in the flexible member 13 passes on either side of the bolt 31 of the tensioning member and it will be seen from Fig. 4 that the endless loops 23 and 24 have their central portions brought into close contact in order that said loops may be engaged between the shank of the bolt 32 and the flange 33 of the tensioning member 34. The tensioning members each preferably comprise stamped metal plates having diverging end portions and projecting flanges so as to form a channel-way on one side. After the loops are engaged within such channelways, bolts are passed through the central aper tures thereof and a washer 36 and nut 37 serve to lock such loops within said channel-ways. A turnbuckle body 41 of a stamped metal plate with upturned end portions 42 having a screwthreaded portion to engage the screw-threaded shanks at its opposite ends, respectively, of the bolts 31 and 32 forming the adjustable portions of tlieturnbu'ckle. Thus theentire tensioning device has all the parts assembled permanently with the central members slid'able laterally upon the tension plates and limited from disengage ment by means of the washers and nuts holding them in the channels provided in the flange mem bers.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is substantially similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception that in place of an elongated endless wire loop being used as a central member in the flexible elements 21, 22 of the bed brace, thin metal strips 43, 44 are used between the chain lengths of such members, respectively. These straps engage the tensioning plate 45 in substantially the same manner as the wire loops 23 and 24 heretofore described. The straps are held in position within the tensioning plates by means of ears 4'? bent inwardly from the flanges on said tensioning plates. In place of a slidable member at the opposite end of the tensioning device, a short plate 49 is used to secure chain members 50 to pivot pins' lO carried in ears at the ends of said plate. i I

.W hen the device is to be applied to a chair, the same type of flexible member is employed, that is, one having an endless loop centrally of a pair 'of chain lengths, th loops being of a length sufflcient to permit lateral sliding action when the same is engaged with a tensioning plate. In ad dition, endless loops are employed at the forward ends of t e flexible members to engage two 'te'r-' minal members secured respectively in a forward leg near the upper portion and in the seat frame of the chair. In this way the device secures all the advantages which might come through the use of a single endless loop as a tensioning member insofar as it will serve to draw together the seat and forward leg portions of a chair and at the same time incorporates in the construction a degree of flexibility in the flexible members which will permit them to be folded into small compass when the same are not in use in connection with an article of furniture. Thus the braces may be applied to or removed from chairs or similar articles of furniture whenever the transfer or reappli'cation of the brace is found desirable because of a change of equipment or for any other reason.

The chair illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 is a standard bent wood chair and is provided with a screw-threaded bolt 51 engaged through an aperture 52 through each of the rearward legs of the chair slightly below the seat portion. Upon these bolts are secured screw-threaded U-shaped plates 53 with which the end loop of the flexible members 54 are engaged. The front legs of the chairs are each provided with fastening members 55 such as screw-hooksengaged therein adjacent their upper portions, and a like fastening member 56, such as a screw hook, is engaged into the inner face of a seat frame. Each flexible member is then engaged with one of the fastening elements in a rearward leg and at its opposite end has a small endless loop 5"! engaged successively over the hooks in the forward leg and in the seat frame on the corresponding side of the chair. The central portions of the flexible members comprising elongated endless loops 58 engaging tensioning plates 61, 62, respectively, which in the construction shown are connected by means of a long bolt 63 having a squared head 64 and freely rotatable in the plate -62 adjacent the head and screw-threadedly engaged in the opposite tensioning plate 61. By turning the head it will be obvious that the tensioning plates will be drawn toward each other and that any degree of tension may be applied to the flexible members. As tension is applied the substantially tri-angular endless loop at the forward end of the flexible memher will be drawn toward the center of the chair and-will pull the front leg and seat frame onto each other so that an extremely firm engagement of such parts will result.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinct ly claim as my invention: i

1. A furniture bracing device comprising a plurality of terminal elements adapted to be socured to the frame members of an article of furniture, a central tensioning device, flexible members adapted to be secured to such terminal elements. said flexible members having chain portions at the ends thereof and elongated slidable elements, in the form of endless loops, centrally thereof to permit free sliding engagement with said central tensioning device.

2. A device of the character described having in combination fastening elements adapted. to be secured to the corner posts of an article of furniture and having terminals at their inner ends adapted to be engaged by the ends of a pair of flexible members, respectively; said flexible members comprising central elongated endless loops and chain'members at the ends thereof, a central tensioning device having flanged plates, said central loops being slidably engaged within said flanged plates and adapted to be drawn toward each-other by means of said tension applying device. V v

'3. A furniture bracing device comprising a plurality'of terminal elements adapted to be secured to the frame members of an article of furniture, a central tensioning device, flexible members adapted to be secured to such terminal elements, said flexible members having chain portions at the ends thereof and elongated slidable elements in the form of endless loops, centrally thereof to permit free sliding engagement with said central tensioning device, said central tensioning device including at least one flanged plate with which the slidable central portions of a flexible member may be engaged for longitudinal sliding movement.

4. A device of the character described having in combination fastening elements adapted to be secured to the corner post of an article of furniture and having terminals at their inner ends adapted to be engaged by the ends of a pair of flexible members, respectively, said flexible members comprising central elongated endless loops and chain members at the ends thereof, a central tensioning device having flanged plates, said central loops being slidably engaged within said flanged plates and adapted to be drawn toward each other by means of said tension applying device, said flexible members having small endless loops at their forward ends adapted to engage the securing elements on a frontleg and the seat frame of a chair.

between the opposite ends of each link and the corresponding anchor members, and longitudinally adjustable connections between the riders and passing loosely through the openings in the links for drawing the riders toward each other,

.the cross-sectional area of the portions of the adjustable connections in said openings being sufliciently less than the lengths of the corresponding openings to allow said links to slide endwise along the riders.

THEODORE H. WITTLIFF. 

